One of the biggest names in music, Jay-Z is a musical figurehead by any standards. Not only is he named as an inspiration by
many of the rappers who followed in his footsteps, but he has been named as the most financially successful entrepreneur in
rap,with a net worth of $547,000,000.

His first album came in 1996 with Reasonable Doubt. The album featured a high profile guest appearance by The Notorious
B.I.G., and is now considered a canonic classic within the genre. His subsequent four albums did not achieve the same level of
critical respect and suffered diminishing co ...read more

One of the biggest names in music, Jay-Z is a musical figurehead by any standards. Not only is he named as an inspiration by
many of the rappers who followed in his footsteps, but he has been named as the most financially successful entrepreneur in
rap,with a net worth of $547,000,000.

His first album came in 1996 with Reasonable Doubt. The album featured a high profile guest appearance by The Notorious
B.I.G., and is now considered a canonic classic within the genre. His subsequent four albums did not achieve the same level of
critical respect and suffered diminishing commercial returns, but The Blueprint, released on September 11 2001, reinstated him
as a major force. His romance with Beyonce Knowles,although rarely discussed by either party, has also ensured that Jay
remains a tabloid mainstay.

In the 12 years since he debuted on a major label recording, Jay has ascended to a point where some now consider him the
greatest rapper of all time. Regardless of arguments over the quality of his music, he stands as a continuing testament to the
global power wielded by the biggest stars in hip-hop, and a counter-argument to those who have claimed that there are no
careers in rap. « hide